BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Robert Wright III were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Mountain District teams, according to a March 17 announcement from the organization.
The recognition highlights the achievements of these three athletes during the NCAA Division I men’s basketball season. The awards are determined by votes from NABC-member coaches across the country.
Dybantsa and Saunders were both selected for the first team. Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring with an average of 25.3 points per game, shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range, and 76.4 percent from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in all 34 games this season and set a freshman record with 27 games scoring at least 20 points. Entering March Madness, his total of 859 points is third-most in a single season in BYU history and he is eight points away from moving into second place on that list. Dybantsa also ranks among program leaders for free throw attempts, field goal makes and attempts, and free throw makes in a single season.
Saunders earned first team honors for a second consecutive year after averaging 18.8 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game before suffering a season-ending injury against Colorado. He shot nearly 49 percent from the field and over 37 percent from beyond the arc while making more than 81 percent of his free throws. Saunders scored in double figures in 21 games this season, including a career-high performance with 33 points at Kansas where he matched his personal best with six three-pointers.
Wright III was named to the second team as one of four Big 12 players recognized at that level. The sophomore averaged a career-high 18.2 points per game and led BYU with 159 assists—fourteenth most in program history for a single season. Wright III was honored as Dickie V’s National Player of the Week after averaging over 34 points per game during wins against Baylor and Colorado.
The Cougars are set to begin NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, March 19 against either Texas or NC State at Moda Center in Portland.
